Co-builders Flexible Startup Support ProgrammeCo-builders Flexible Startup Support Programme
Sector AgnosticIdeationPre-seed

Co-builders

Flexible modular programme offering pathways in idea generation, team formation, and startup skills.

Organizer: Catalyst
Categories: Training & Learning, Incubator
Countries: United Kingdom, Ireland
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Catalyst's Co-builders is a flexible, modular entrepreneurship programme primarily serving Northern Ireland, UK. Evolving from Co-Founders, it allows aspiring entrepreneurs aged 18 and over to access tailored support at their own pace. Through structured training, practical workshops, and expert guidance, participants can explore, validate, and develop innovative business ideas.

Introducing Co-builders

  • Programme evolution: Co-builders is the successor to Catalyst's Co-Founders programme, building on its experience supporting early-stage entrepreneurs.
  • Format: A flexible, modular entrepreneurship programme allowing participants to select activities according to their needs and development stage.
  • Geographic focus: Primarily Northern Ireland, United Kingdom, with no explicitly confirmed global participation policy.
  • Participant control: Founders determine their learning pace, select relevant activities, and develop their business ideas through personalised pathways.
  • Focus areas: AI software, physical products, scientific innovation, and other technology-driven or entrepreneurial ideas.
  • Eligibility: Open to individuals aged 18 and over, including aspiring entrepreneurs and people exploring early-stage business ideas.
  • Foundation: Builds on Co-Founders' established approach to idea generation, team formation, and entrepreneurship skills development.
  • Approach: Replaces a fixed, one-size-fits-all programme with modular pathways covering exploration, learning, validation, and practical venture development.

Why the Change?

  • Track record: Catalyst's previous Co-Founders programme supported startup development in Northern Ireland over an eight-year period.
  • Participation: Co-Founders welcomed 976 participants.
  • Team creation: The predecessor programme supported the formation of 263 entrepreneurial teams.
  • Founder guidance: Helped aspiring entrepreneurs explore business concepts, develop teams, and take their first steps towards establishing startups.
  • Market shift: Advances in artificial intelligence and digital technologies are enabling founders to experiment, validate concepts, and develop ventures more efficiently.
  • Founder needs: Early-stage entrepreneurs increasingly require personalised support, adaptable learning opportunities, and practical tools rather than rigid cohort schedules.
  • New direction: Co-builders responds to these changes by offering flexible, founder-led development pathways supported by Catalyst's entrepreneurship team.

The Building Blocks

  • Overall structure: Co-builders is organised into modular learning and development activities that reflect the different stages of building a startup.
  • Choice: Participants can explore the available building blocks and select activities matching their experience, business ideas, and immediate priorities.
  • Eligibility: The building blocks are open to individuals aged 18 and over.
  • Programme pathways: The three principal components are The Foundations, The Blueprint, and The Toolkit.
  • Participation model: Activities are offered through workshops, structured entrepreneurship training, and community events, subject to individual schedules and any applicable prerequisites.

The Foundations

  • Purpose: Introduces aspiring entrepreneurs to idea exploration, creative problem-solving, AI-enabled experimentation, and early-stage venture development.
  • Activities: Opportunities to shape business concepts, explore emerging technologies, connect with entrepreneurial peers, and develop confidence in pursuing new ideas.
  • Explore this block if you: Have a problem or potential business idea to investigate; want to meet other entrepreneurial individuals; are interested in using AI and rapid ideation tools; or need guidance and structure to begin your entrepreneurial journey.

The Blueprint

  • Framework: Based on Disciplined Entrepreneurship, the venture development framework associated with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
  • Delivery: Catalyst's trained team guides participants through structured activities designed to evaluate business opportunities, test assumptions, understand customers, and develop viable business models.
  • Purpose: Helps entrepreneurs progress from initial ideas to more clearly defined venture opportunities through systematic validation and practical business development methods.
  • Explore this block if you: Have a business idea ready for further development; want to validate customer needs and market opportunities; need expert guidance and structured entrepreneurship tools; or want to reduce uncertainty before launching a startup.

The Toolkit

  • Format: Practical, hands-on workshops designed to strengthen essential entrepreneurial skills and help founders apply the Disciplined Entrepreneurship framework.
  • Prerequisite: Participants need to complete Disciplined Entrepreneurship training before accessing this block to gain the intended benefit.
  • Focus: Applying startup development methods, building practical business capabilities, and addressing challenges encountered while developing an early-stage venture.
  • Explore this block if you: Want to improve practical startup skills; need focused workshops relevant to your business; are ready to apply entrepreneurship frameworks; or prefer flexible learning opportunities that address your immediate development priorities.

Upcoming Events

  • Calendar: Co-builders maintains an activity and event calendar featuring available workshops, entrepreneurship sessions, and community opportunities.
  • Flexibility: Participants can choose activities aligned with their current development stage and availability rather than committing to one fixed programme schedule.
  • Community updates: Individuals can join the Co-builders Community to receive information about upcoming activities and participation opportunities.
  • Application deadline: Rolling Basis.

Co-builders offers a self-directed approach to startup development through three building blocks: The Foundations, The Blueprint, and The Toolkit. Primarily focused on Northern Ireland, the programme helps aspiring founders aged 18 and over develop ideas, strengthen entrepreneurial skills, and progress towards launching viable businesses.